Showcasing two of the biggest and best Indigenous bands in the land, UMI Arts presents UMI Soundz at The Tanks on Saturday 21st May. With a deadly double bill featuring Black Image and Zennith Boyz, the UMI Soundz series aims to showcase, develop and promote contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders bands and musicians from Cairns and the FNQ region.
Since their formation in 1997, Cape York’s Black Image has been a staple of the Australian Music Scene for the past 19 years. Winners of the prestigious National Indigenous Band of the Year award at the 2007 Deadly Awards, the band has performed at Woodford Folk Festival and supported world class acts including Troy Cassar-Daily and Yothi Yindi. With two albums under their belts and a DVD in the works, the band ventures back to Cairns after a huge performance at Big Talk last year and a sell-out Tanks performance in 2014.
“We played two years ago at The Tanks and it was a sell-out. It’s the best The Tanks! You won’t find a better stage. We’re all really looking forward to it, we always love coming to Cairns. People keep coming to the shows so it’s always a good sign to keep coming back” said Dylan Harrigan from Black Image.
Consisting of five brothers and showcasing a diverse range of musical styles including rock, reggae, blues, country and Indigenous rock, the Harrigan brothers grew up in a musical environment and forged a close connection as a band from an early age.
“I honestly don’t know what it would be like to be in a band with four or five other strangers. For us, growing up together and all being brothers, there’s a very close connection. It has definitely helped with us being so tight and being a family has helped our music. We’re not perfect, no family is, but music has always brought us together and has always been very important to us. Right from the start when we were young and our Dad would take us along to gigs and let us perform with him. It has always been very special to us. We are very close-knit”.
Dylan and his brothers’ count their father has a huge musical influence on them growing up. The brothers would regularly attend gigs and even perform with their father on stage, giving the boys invaluable stage experience from a very early age.
“We went everywhere with Dad pretty much, a lot of gigs. Mum would take us along and have a mattress on the side of the stage, so we’d play a little bit then we’d sleep. We’d help set up and pack up too, and he’d get us up to play with his band. Nowadays we take our family on the road, we bring our kids and our partners and always make a big trip of it. My brother Anslem’s young son has been playing with us, doing exactly like we use to do. Coming along, helping to set up and pack up, performing a few songs and getting paid for it too! (laughter)”
Performing alongside Australia’s #1 original reggae band, Zennith Boyz, the night is sure to be a double bill not to be missed!
UMI Arts presents UMI Soundz at The Tank Arts Centre on Saturday 21st May featuring Black Image & Zennith Boyz. Tickets from Ticketlink, $12 Adult, $10 Concession. Doors open 6.30pm, show starts 7pm.
Mitch Sullivan
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